January 2, 2014

Saag paneer (with homemade paneer)

Plate of saag paneer.

Let me start of by saying how much I loved this meal. I loved eating it, and I loved making it. I loved the process of making the paneer cheese, which I will describe in detail below. 

Posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase an item from these links, a small percentage goes to support the work of this blog. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

This was certainly a time-consuming meal, but it was completely worth it when we sat down to eat. This was only my second homemade cheese (first was ricotta) and I must say that I'm looking forward to trying my hand at more cheeses in the not-too-distant future. 

Once the paneer was made, the rest of the dish was pretty simple to put together and all the flavors in it came together perfectly. I read quite a few paneer recipes and saag paneer recipes before I attempted this dish. The two I used most as reference were this one from Food Network and this one from Journey Kitchen

If you live near any specialty or Indian markets, you may be able to find paneer, but if you have a lazy Sunday afternoon, give it a try - it's a very rewarding process.

Paneer cheese in cheesecloth.

Saag paneer
about 12 oz. paneer cheese (recipe below)
1 teaspoon turmeric
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
sea salt
coconut oil (or other cooking oil of your choice)
1 bag of frozen spinach (10-12 oz.), thawed
1 medium white onion, chopped
1 tablespoon minced ginger 
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 jalapeno or serrano chile, minced (remove seeds for less heat)
3/4 teaspoon garam masala
2 teaspoons ground corainder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/3 cup plain whole milk yogurt

Basmati rice, for serving, optional
naan, for serving, optional

to make paneer:
8 cups whole milk
3-5 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Pour the milk in a large, wide pot. Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat, stirring often so it doesn't burn. This takes a while, so just keep stirring.

When the milk comes to a boil, reduce the heat to low and then add the lemon juice 1 tablespoon at a time, stirring after each addition. When the milk solids separate (curds) and you see a greenish liquid (whey), you have added enough lemon juice. 

Draining paneer curds in a cheesecloth.

Remove the pot from the heat. Line a colander with cheesecloth and pour the entire pot into the colander. Gently rinse the cheese with cool water. Gather up the cheesecloth and squeeze out the whey. Tie the cheesecloth together using twine or string. Hang it on your faucet or cupboard and let the whey drip out for about 20 minutes. 

Drip coming out of cheesecloth.

Make sure the cheesecloth is tied relatively tightly. Place the cheese (still wrapped) onto a cutting board. Then top the cheese with something like another cutting board or large plate. Weight it down with a can of food or a pot so that the cheese flattens slightly (you want it to come out in a disc shape). Let sit for about 20 minutes. Then you can unwrap it from the cheesecloth and use it in the recipe or (my preference), wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, refrigerate, and use the next day (this helps it retain its shape and firmness better).

Pressing paneer between two cutting boards.

Next prepare the whole dish. Begin by cutting the paneer into about 1-inch chunks. In a medium bowl, whisk together the turmeric, cayenne, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 2 tablespoons oil. Gently toss in the paneer until it is coated. Set aside.

Cutting finished paneer.

Finely chop the thawed spinach. Heat a couple tablespoons of oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-low heat. Add the paneer and gently cook on each side until golden. Remove from the skillet and set aside (it will stain from the turmeric). 

Add the onion, ginger, garlic, and chile to the pan. Stir well and cook over medium heat, stirring often, until the vegetables are a deep golden color, about 15 minutes. If the pan is dry, add a touch more oil. 

Stir in the garam masala, coriander, and cumin. Add a couple spoons of water to keep the spices from burning. Stir and cook until fragrant, about 2-3 minutes.

Stir in the spinach along with a pinch of salt and 1/2 cup water. Stir well and let cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

Turn off the heat. Place the yogurt in a small dish and add a few spoons of the spinach mixture to the yogurt, stirring well to temper and help keep it from curdling. Then pour the yogurt mixture into the pan and stir well. Gently stir the paneer into the pan. Turn the heat back on low, cover, and cook until warmed through, about 5-6 minutes. 

Serve hot with a side of Basmati rice or naan, if desired. 

Serving plate of Saag paneer with rice.

27 comments:

  1. Hi Amy, Happy new Year to you and wishing you all the best in 2014.
    That's a interesting recipe, something new to me but it look good.

    Have a nice day.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yum! We have done homemade paneer a few times and it is sooooo good. Definitely worth the effort, in my book. Yours looks delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Saag paneer is one of my favorite dishes and yours looks and sounds so delectable!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I've always wanted to make my own saag paneer- your's looks like it came out perfectly!

    Sues

    ReplyDelete
  5. Never cooked with paneer before. Looks interesting and tasty!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Your paneer cheese sounds yummy, I have never made homemade cheese before. I love the whole recipe, really sounds delish.

    ReplyDelete
  7. oh my! now i am totally craving saag!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I've always wanted to make paneer but have been too scared to! Thanks for giving me the motivation!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love your home made cheese with the spinach...

    ReplyDelete
  10. Yum! I love paneer....thank you so much for the recipe, I will have to try it myself.
    Happy New Year Amy :D

    ReplyDelete
  11. The paneer looks excellent, what a great way to welcome 2014! :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Your paneer looks delish, Amy.
    Happy New Year to you and yours!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I have never made homemade cheese. You make it seem very doable with all your pictures. Indian food is my favorite so I must give this a try. Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I've never had paneer, but I see it everywhere...it's a must try!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I always wanted to make paneer. Now you have me ready to give it a try. Wishing you a super 2014!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Paneer has been on my list for months. Thanks for the recipe, it will inspire me to make my own very soon! And the dish itself looks lovely too, yum!
    Have a nice day dear! xx

    ReplyDelete
  17. I never had paneer but am very intrigued by the name. And making a homemade cheese is such an accomplishment! Love this recipe to start the year!

    ReplyDelete
  18. This looks incredible! I love Indian food soooo much. I will definitely have to give this recipe a try! :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. I love this dish! But have never made my own paneer - I gotta do this. Really super post - thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I love that you went that extra mile to make your own paneer! I bet it helped make this even more delicious than it would of been with store-bought! I need to make this too!

    ReplyDelete
  21. This looks wonderful! Nothing beats fresh, homemade cheese!

    ReplyDelete
  22. This is my most favorite Indian dish! Thanks for sharing how to make it, especially the paneer!!

    ReplyDelete

I love to hear from you!